International Astronomical Center

• When to Observe ?
• JAS Observes The Crescent of Shawwal from A Plane
• Results of Observation
• The First Day in Different Countries
• AUASS Comment on the Eid
• The Accuracy of The Astronomical Calculations.
• Related Links.

The geocentric new Moon will occur Inshalla on Wednesday (04 December 2002), at 07:34 UT. On this day (Wednesday 04 December 2002), the program Moon Calculator by Dr. Monzur Ahmed -according to Yallop criterion- showed that it is not possible to see the crescent from anywhere on Earth except from parts of south America and by optical aid only. While on Thursday (05 December 2002), the program Moon Calculator by Dr. Monzur Ahmed -according to Yallop criterion- showed that crescent should be seen relatively easily by naked eyes from most parts of the world. Thus, according to the actual sighting of the crescent, the start of Shawwal should be on Friday (06 December 2002) in most parts of the world, or on Thursday (05 December 2002) in some countries in the America Continents. Kindly click on the below icon to see the visibility parabola as plotted by the program Moon Calculator

Visibility of the crescent on Wednesday 04 December

Visibility of the crescent on Thursday 05 December

- Results of seeing the crescent, and the first day of the month in different countries will be added here Inshalla as we receive the reports from ICOP's members. If you wish to be a member in ICOP, or to know more about it, kindly click here.

• Indonesia:

  1. ICOP member, Mr. Irfan Madani said: "Tonight, Indonesian ministry of religion affairs has announced that Eidul Fitri 1423 H in Indonesia will be on Friday, December 6 2002 since no one has sighted the hilal today (Wednesday). However, some Muslems in the country have prepared to celebrate Eidul Fitri tomorrow since they use 'wujudul hilal' criterion and do not perform the ru'yah."

  2. Muzakkin Thoha said: "Really I want to report the result of Rukyah al-Hilal at Tanjung Kodok, East Jawa, Indonesia for each of the first day of Ramadan and Shawwal. But as we knew that in a few years past and may be future in our country on these months was rainy season, thus each month of these was always clouded and haze, then we hard be able to observe the cresent. Alhamdulillah, The Indonesian government, officially the Ministry of Religious Affairs newly announced esterday, Wednesday evening that 1st Shawwal 1423 AH would fall on Friday, 6th December 2002 even though the Muhammadiyah, one of Muslim organizations in Indonesia, decided earlier to celebrate the holiday and to perform Sholat Eid on Thursday, 5th December 2002 based on his modern Hisab. Thanks and Happy Eid al-Fitr. May Allah accept our worship, Taqabbalallahu minnaa wa minkum"

• Malaysia:
  1. ICOP member, Mr. Abdul Majid Abdul Wahid said: "The cresent was not seen and our government announced 1st shawal to be on Friday 6 December 2002"

  2. ICOP member, Mr. Kassim Bahali said: "The hilal was not seen because the western sky was cloudy after sunset. Hilal was not seen at all the official location of hilal. The Malaysian Government have announced that the first Shawal will be started at Friday 06-Dec.-2002. Eid Mubarak to all Muslim and may Allah forgives us."

• Brunei: ICOP member, Mr. Mahadi Mohamad Tahir said: "No report of crescent was seen in Brunei or other neighbour countries. 1 st of Shawal was announced on Friday."

• Singapore: ICOP member, Mr. Ibrahim Muhammad Ridhwan mentioned that he didn't see the crescent.

• Maldives: ICOP member, Mr. Ahmed Salih said: "Upper horizon was clear but the sun set behind low clouds. Crescent was not seen by naked eyes. However, it is annouced by the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs that tomorrow is 1st of Shawwal 1423. The announcement said some Islamic nations has sighted the crescent and astronomical calculations indicates this possibility."

• Iran: ICOP member, Mr. Asadollah Khoddam Mohammadi mentioned that the sky was hazy and no crescent was seen.

• Saudi:

  1. ICOP member, Mr. Anwar Al Muhammad said: " I with about 10 parsons tried to sight the new crescent of Shawaal , 35 minutes before the time of sun set in Wednesday, 4 December 2002, in the eastern area of Saudi Arabia “Al-Aujam- 26:33N, 49:47E”. We used a computerized 10” LX-200, GPS, telescope. Also, we aligned the telescope in the night of Tuesday 3 Dec, to make sure that it will go to the position of the moon, and we tested its alignment with two stars Vega and Altair around 4:15 pm before pointing it toward the moon. The sun should set at 4:47 pm in our area, but it disappeared behind clouds at 4:40pm. We know that the age of the crescent is 6h : 12m, it sets 6 minutes after real sun set, it has altitude of 0:38, and the angle between the moon and the sun is less than 4 degree, which all make the visibility of the crescent seams to be impossible. As usual, we hared about some people in the nearby town, less than ten, who claim that the saw the crescent. We hope that all Muslims in the world have a nice Eid Fiter, any day they believe convince."

  2. ICOP member, Mr. Saleh Al-Saab said: "Happy Eid for you all, as you know more than one person reported thier sight and according to this the statement announsed to start Shawwal on the 5th., but none of the six 'official' committees has seen the crescent."

• Bahrain: ICOP member, Mr. Fathi Mayoof said: "Today is wednesday, and of course I'm sure I will not observe the crescent, since its age is less than 7 hours. West horizon was hazy, and so, it is difficult to claim any observation."

• Kuwait: ICOP member, Mr. Hussain Khushaish said: "More than 250 persons tried to see the crescent but we could not due to clouds & haze (& of course due to the eclipse)."

• Jordan: ICOP member, Mohammad Odeh said: "The crescent was not seen from Jordan from a plane at 3800 meters above sea-level." Kindly click here for more details.

• Algeria: ICOP member, Dr. Jamal Mimouni said: "In a laconic communique from the National Crescent Committee of the Ministry of Religious Affairs read on Algerian TV this Wednesday 4 December, it was declared Thursday 5 December to be the Eid day for Algeria. The communique didn't mention whether the crescent was observed in Algeria, but simply states that the announcement was based on its alleged observation in "most of the Muslim countries". Furthermore, it was cloudy on Wednesday over most of Algeria. May Allah accept our fasting."

• Morocco:
  1. Dr. Abdelkhalek Cheddadi said: "The Moroccan Awqaf Ministery declared in a statement that the crescent has not been observed on Wednesday evening, so 1st of Shawwal will be Friday, December 6. Eid saeed to all ICOP members wa kull aam wa antum bi khayr !"

  2. ICOP member, Prof. Hamid TOUMA said: "I am pleased to inform you that yesterday, we have tried to observe the Crescent of the Moon but we did not. We have used both a Naked Eyes and Binoculars (12x50), there were some clouds in the horizon, we have not be able to observe the Crescent. By other way, during the News TV of 8 O'Clock PM, the Moroccan Gouvernment has annouced officially that they has tried olso to observe the Crescent of the Moon in the all area of the Kingdom but they did not eigther. So the Ramadan has 30 days and the AID AL FITRE will be tomorrow Friday 6 December 2002. I take this opportunity to wish to the all Muslims in the World a good Aid Al Fitre. As you know the New Moon was on 7h 34 min (UT) and the Sunset in the all area of Morocco was globaly on 17 h 30 min. So, from the New Moon until the Sunset was only 10 hours which are not enougth "to built" the Crescent (danjon creteria). So the Moroccan decision is astronomically good. Thank you so much."

• Tanzania: ICOP member, Mr. Abdulghany Msoma said: "I left the sea show for home at 7.00 pm, our western Horizon was cloudy, I could not see the crecent above the clouds. The sky was clear above the cloudy horison on about 10 degrees."

• Kenya: ICOP member, Mr. Mahmood Essa said: "Please be informed that it was too cloudy to observe the new crescent this evening of 4/12/02. However, we were not supposed to see it anyway !! Thus we will complete 30 days of Ramadhan tomorrow, Thursday 5/12/02 and insha Allah we shall celebrate Eid ul Fitr on Friday 6/12/02, which will be our first day of shawaal here in Kenya. I take this opportunity is wishing all ICOP members a Happy and Blessed Eid ul Fitr."

• South Africa:
  1. ICOP member, Mr. Abdurrazak Ebrahim Snr said: "There was no moon sighted in the whole region of southern Africa this Thursday evening and therefore the month of Ramadaan will be a term of 30 days. Eid-ul-Fitr (1st Shawwaal 1423) will be observed on Friday, 06 December 2002. Present at the Three Anchor Bay (Cape Town) sighting location was a gathering of over 5000 (five thousand) Muslims. A wonderful sight to behold. A Peaceful and Blessed Eid to the global Ummah; to all those Muslims suffering under the yoke of oppression; to the hard-working Muhammad Odeh and his dedicated staff members and their families; and to all members of ICOP and their families."

  2. ICOP member, Mr. Hashim Salie said: "As is traditional in Cape Town, an estimated 9,000 worshippers gathered at our traditional vantage point in an attempt to observe the Shawwaal 1423 hilaal. The Hilaal was not sighted in Cape Town, or anywhere in South Africa for that matter. Thus, we shall observe 30 days of Fasting and Eidul Fitr shall be on Friday, 6 December 2002. May Allah Almighty accept our worship. KOELLOE AAM WA ANTOEM BI KHAYR. A Blessed Eid to all our Muslim brethren across the Globe, Insha-Allah."

• Nigeria:

  1. ICOP member, Mr. Aminu Lukuman said: "The sky was very clear and the crescent was not seen today Wednesday [04/12/2002]. However, before yesterday Tuesday [03/12/2002], the Government in Nigeria had announced that the public holidays for the Eid-El-Fitr were Wednesday [04/12/2002] and Thursday [05/12/2002]. At about 11:30 p.m on Tuesday [03/12/2002], some group from the North [Birnin Kebbi, in Kebbi State] and south [Benin, in Edo State] claimed that the crescent was sighted in their area. Therefore, majority of muslims in the Northern Nigeria and few from the south celebrated thier Eid-El-Fitr today Wedneday [04/12/2002]. Most people in Southern Nigeria will clebrate their Eid-El-Fitr tommorrow Thursday[05/12/2002]. We in the Zumratul Jamiu Muminu Society of Nigeria (ZJMSN) commence our fasting by sighting the Ramadhan crescent and we shall stop fasting after sighting the Shawwal crescent In-Sha-Allah or when the Ramadhan is 30 days. In-Sha-Allah, our fasting continue tommorrow Thursday[05/12/2002]."

  2. ICOP member, Mr. Usman Dukku said: " Twelve of us tried sighting the crescent but we did not ses it here in Bauchi."

• Ireland: ICOP member, Mr. James McKenna mentioned that the sky was totally cloudy.

• Norway: ICOP member, Eng. Imran Mushtaq said: "Acording to the method adopted in Norway, The Eid-ul-Fitr is on Thursday 05.12.2002 (Se hilal.irn.no ) for details."

• UK:
  1. ICOP member, Dr. Mohammad Nasrullah said: "The moon was born at 07:34 and sunset times is 15:55. Thus the life of the moon is only 8 hours and 21 minutes. There is no way the moon could be sighted but in spite of this some mosques are celeberating Eid ul-Fitr on Thursday but majority are celeberating on Friday after completing 30 days of Ramadan."

  2. ICOP member, Mr. Mohammad Baig said: "London was NOT cloudy for a change but crescent was not sighted. However, UK is divided as ever but majority seem to be going for Friday Eid. A very happy Eid to all of you and ICOP should carry on the good work it is doing despite the obvious 'hurdle'."

• USA:

  1. ICOP member, Dr. Mohibullah Durrani said: "The National Shura and Fiqh Councils of North America had a teleconference which ended at 9:30 pm EST on Wed 4 Dec 2002. The decision is as follows: There was NO verified or verifyable reports of Hilal sighting on the evening of Wed 4 Dec 2002 anywhere in North America. As such, 30 days of Ramadan 1423 AH will be completed and Eid-ul-Fitr will be on Fri 6 Dec 2002, inshallah. Eid Mubarak to all."

  2. ICOP member, Mr. Jim Stamm said: "I tried, but it was too hazy, and there were clouds in the west. I was not even able to acquire Mercury. Sorry."

  3. ICOP member, Dr. Salman Shaikh said: "Inspite of the clearly erroneous hilaal sighting report from Saudi Arabia, Alhamdulillaah the overwhelming majority in North America, following the Islamic Shoora Council of North America's stand of "Validated (Astronomically) Local Hilaal Sighting in North America" is correctly celebrating the Eid Ul Fitr on Friday. Eid Mubarak to all. Kullu Aam Wa Antum Bi Khayr. Jazakum Allahu Khayran to all including JAS for their efforts Masha'Allaah."

  4. ICOP member, Mr. Gulamabbas Khakoo said: "Tried to sight the crescent today DEC 4, 2002 here in Long Beach, CA. local time 16:55 to 17:20 unable to sight. Condition was fair slight haze. With Salaams and Dua's."

  5. ICOP member, Dr. Ahmad Raza Khan said: "Due to snowy conditions and heavy clouds in the air and low temperature (14 F), it was impossible to see the crescent despite some attempts on Wednesday evening Dec. 4th, 2002 from Wayne, Nebraska USA."

  6. Br. Abdul-Rashid Abdullah of the Islamic Information Office in Hawaii said: "Five Teams of at least 3 brothers each went to sight the Hilal all around the Leeward (west) side of Oahu and 1 team on Kauai. The skies were reasonably clear but there was no sighting of the Hilal. I would like to stress the importance of Hawaii in providing Global Sighting information. We are mostly amateurs here but many of us do go out to sight regularly. We like to think of ourselves as "informed amateurs". We often use the MoonCalc application, but if any of the astronomers would like to provide us further assistance in terms of advice, etc, we are more than welcome. We do hope that in the future we can help quell all of this nonsense. My point to ask the whole world, if Hawaii is the last place on Earth that the sighting of the Hilal will be possible before the crossing of the International Dateline, than why not wait and see what we have to say? Anyways, you can see our announcement at http://www.iio.org. Since ISNA makes their decisions before speaking with us, I am pushing to our locale that we go completely independent in announcing our date and times for Eid. We have too many arguments from those who do not want to shake their "back home" baggage and want to argue with our local Shura Committee. Peace and blessings upon all of you. May Allah guide us to the straight path. Those who are not Muslims, I wish you the best of guidance. You can always contact me if you like (I am an Italian/German American Muslim). Eid Mubarak, Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri!"

  7. ICOP member, Mr. Khalid Fituri said: "The western horizon was partly cloudy. We tried seeing the crecent by naked eyes , but we could not see it. We tried to see it using the binocular, but can not be seen either."

• Canada:
  1. ICOP member, Mr. Mohammed Murad said: "The Muslim Council of Montreal and the United Muslim Students Association are pleased to announce that in accordance with local moon sighting (which is agreed upon by ISNA) Eid will be on Friday, Dec. 6th, 2002. The reason for the delayed decision is due to a possible sighting in Ottawa that was discussed in Montreal. However, ISNA has declared Eid to be Friday based on local sighting. Masjid Sunnah has declared it to be on Thursday based on the Ottawa sighting. West Island Mosque and Ummah have declared it also to be on Thursday based on the sighting in Saudi Arabia."

     Mr. Murad added in another email:-

     "The situation here in Montreal is still missy, but as the Council has declared Friday to be the first day of Eid, many people will follow this decleration regardless of some other declerations from some Mosques... The Muslim Student Association (MSA) Mosques in the largest two Univeristies in Montreal, Concordia University and McGill University, have adopted the Muslim Council Decleration and have announced that Eid Prayer will be held on Friday December 6th, 2002. As a conclusion, there are two points to mention:

     1. The Muslim Council of Montreal has declared Eid based on actual seeing of the Crescent, regardless of two claims of seeing the crescent, one in Montreal and one in Ottawa (another Canadian city), and also regardless to other countries' declerations.

     2. Although the Muslim Council of Montreal is the representaion of all Montreal Mosques, some of them did their own announcement in reference to other sources."

  2. ICOP member, Mr. Mohammad Farooq said: "In Hamilton, Ontario at sunset the western horizon was cloudy. The hamilton mosque has announced the Eid Ul Fitr will be Thursday December 5th, 2002. They strictly follow Saudi Arabia. Most of the Toronto region, which is about 65 km from Hamilton will be celebrating it on Friday December 6th, 2002. Eid Mubarak to all ICOP members and their family."

Thursday 05 December 2002

• Maldives: ICOP member, Mr. Ahmed Salih said: "There were some clouds at lower horizon. Sun set behind the clouds. However, a beautiful thin crescent was seen above the clouds at 06:18 p.m. and would be seen for another 10 to 12 minutes before it gets behind the clouds."

• Mauritius: ICOP member, Mr. Hamade Aubdoollah said: "Assalaamoualaikoum. I am pleased to inform you that the crescent was visible to the naked eye throughout Mauritius today Thursday 5th Dec as from 14.50hrs UT. The first day of Shawwal will be on Friday 6th Dec 2002. Eid Mubarak to you and all ICOP members and well wishers."

• Iran: ICOP member, Mr. Saeed Janghorban said: "This crescent with good parameters wath easy to see and I can observe it by binocular befor sun set. This is good to know that q-test parameter from BDYALLOP critrion for Esfahan zone at 5 Dec, is 0.384 and at 4 Dec, was -0.941 (below Dajon limit). At end Aid-Al Fetr mobarak to all of world's muslim."

• Saudi: ICOP member, Mr. Anwar Al Muhammad said: "Great! The new crescent of Shawaal was seen today, Thursday, 5 December 2002, in the eastern area of Saudi Arabia “Al-Aujam- 26:33N, 49:47E”. But only with a computerized 10” LX-200. We were about 10 parsons in. The western horizon was very haze, so that the crescent can not be observed by a naked eye or by the view finder telescope attached to the telescope. The observation events were:

  1- The apparent sun set: 4:35pm.
  2- The calculated sun set: 4:47pm.
  3- First observation of the crescent: 4:50pm
  4- Disappearance of the crescent from the eye piece: 5:25pm.
  The crescent was very thin, such that it can not be observed even by a telescope yesterday (Wednesday 4 Dec). Tomorrow, Friday 6 Dec, is considered the first day of Shwwaal in our town. Eid Mobarak For all Muslims.

• Kuwait: ICOP member, Mr. Hussain Khushaish said: "On Thursday 5 Dec. 2002 the western sky was unfortunatly cloudy."

• Jordan: ICOP member, Mohammad Odeh said: "Very fascinating and thin crescent! It was seen by naked eyes almost easily."

• Syria: Mr. Taalib said: "We attempted to see the moon here in Damascus today, but failed to sight the crescent. After sunset some clouds moved in low on the horizon. Allah knows best, if today (Thursday) had been the 2nd of Shawwal then the moon would have been clearly visible even with the clouds low on the horizon. Allah willing, we intend on looking again Friday."

• Kenya: ICOP member, Mr. Mahmood Essa said: "I am happy to report that the new crescent was easily sighted here in mombasa, kenya, on thursday 5/12/02 and thus tomorrow friday, 6/12/02 will be our first day shawwal in kenya. I take this opportunity in wishing all I.C.O.P members a Happy and Blessed Eid Ul Fitr."

• Nigeria: ICOP member, Mr. Aminu Lukuman said: "Alihamdulilahi, the crescent was sighted today Thursday [05/12/2002] by two different groups of the Zumratul Jamiu Muminu Society of Nigeria (ZJMSN), at two different locations in Lagos Mainland [i.e, Agegunle and Apapa]. Insha-Allah we (ZJMSN) shall celebrate our Eid-EL-Fitr tommorrow Friday [06/12/2002]. Eid-Murak to all muslims brother."

• Germany: ICOP member, Mr. Gerhard Ahmad Kaufmann mentioned that the sky was cloudy.

• Bosnia and Herzegovi: ICOP member, Mr. Kemal Sehbajraktarevic said: "The weather in Bosnia is totaly cloudy for few days. Officialy, first day of Eid is today, Thursday the 4th."

• USA: ICOP member, Mr. Khalid Fituri said: "The new crescent was sighted here in San Diego, California on Thursday Dec 5, 2002, therefore tomorrow Friday, Dec 6,2002 will be our first day shawwal. I take this opportunity in wishing all Muslims and specially I.C.O.P members a Happy and Blessed Eid Ul Fitr."

• Trinidad and Tobago: ICOP member, Dr. Shirin Haque-Copilah said: "The crescent was sighted in Tobago by a group of 10 persons and two other independent groups also in Tobago. Trinidad was clouded over again on the horizon. At least one group followed Saudi and celebrated Eid on Thursday in Trinidad, the rest of the country celebrates on Friday. Eid Mubarak to everyone and congrats to ICOP for their undaunting efforts! Keep on flying!"